Educational & Group Visits

• Advance Booking: To ensure the best possible experience, we ask all groups to book in advance.

• Group Size: Groups larger than 10 must book ahead. Larger groups (30+) may be split into smaller units for an optimal visit.

• Flexible Scheduling: We aim to accommodate visits at times that suit your needs while ensuring a quality experience for all visitors.

• Self-Guided Exploration: Groups are welcome to explore at their own pace. Advance notice is encouraged to help us manage visitor flow.

• Curatorial Introductions: A short (5-minute) introduction to the exhibition can be provided by gallery staff upon request. Free of charge; requires at least one week's notice.

• In-Depth Exhibition Talks: Our curators and programming team offer extended discussions (up to 45 minutes) on exhibition themes, curation processes, and the gallery's role in documentary photography. A fee of £4 per person applies; advance booking required.

• Tailored Learning Experiences: We can adapt talks and visits to suit different age groups, educational levels, and areas of interest. Let us know what will make your visit most valuable.

For university students, academics, and institution-affiliated researchers, Side Gallery offers one-on-one access to our extensive photographic collection. Our archive houses decades of socially significant documentary photography, reflecting working-class and marginalised experiences from the UK and beyond.

Please note:

• Appointments are essential to access archive materials.

• Access is prioritised for research projects affiliated with universities, museums, or cultural institutions.

• We welcome discussions on collaborations with educators and researchers seeking to integrate our collection into their work.

• Suitable for All Ages: Our exhibitions and resources are designed to engage visitors from primary school to postgraduate level, as well as adult learning groups. If content is not advised for a younger audience this will be outlined on the event/exhibition information page.

• Group Supervision: Side staff will be in the gallery, but teachers, lecturers and group leaders are responsible for supervising their group at all times.

  • Ages 6–11: 1 adult per 5 children

  • Ages 11–16: 1 adult per 10 children

  • Ages 16–18: 1 adult per 20 students

• Respect for the Space: Side Gallery is an intimate environment for contemplation and discussion. We ask all visitors to engage with the space and works with care. This includes:

  • Please avoid touching the artwork: framed or unframed. 

  • Photography is allowed, but we do request that you do not use flash and please refrain from taking close-ups of the works, or capturing images of other visitors not part of your group. If you intend on using the images for a blog after your visit please feel free to tag Side Gallery.

  • We do not allow food or drink to be consumed in the gallery.

  • Side does not have cloak room facilities, so all belonging will need to be kept with visitor/s at all times.

• Inclusivity: We are committed to ensuring that Side is accessible to all. Please let us know of any specific needs, and we will do our best to accommodate them.

• Quiet Visits & Reduced-Capacity Hours: To accommodate visits from those within neurodiverse communities, the team at Side are able to provide access outside of our standard gallery opening times and implement quiet hours during less busy times to manage sensory overwhelm. Bookings for these visits need to be made a minimum of two weeks in advance.

• Facilities: The gallery has ramped access from our cobbled alley entrance, a lift to all floors, and an accessible toilet on the ground floor.